Time controlling device.



PATENTED NOV. 19,1907.

U.'E. CAMPBELL. TIME CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22 190 5. RENEWED SEPLZG, 1907.

k, m a

fe s:

- unrrn or ies.

THEE CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. is, 1907.

Application filed September 22, 1905, Serial No. 279649. Renewed September 26 1907- Sarial No. 394:,712-

vention being to obtain a simple and in expensive controlling device for electric switches, or analogous controlling devices,

to be automatically operated by a suitable timing element, it being practicable to utilize an ordinary alarm clock, or any timing element in which a movable member or motor is caused to move at a certain time, controlled by any suitablesetting mechanism. r j

In the construction shown, the device is arranged to be operated by the winding handle of-an ordinary alarm clock, these clocks being commonly constructed so-that the alarm winding handle, unwinds as soon as the alarm spring is released by the clock work.

The device embodying the invention is shown as embodied in a rotary electric switch mounted on a support which is provided with one or more brackets or supple- 5O being sleeved upon the shaft, and having a mental supports adapted tohold a clock or clocks in such a position thatthe alarm winding member will move in the path of a retaining pawl, whichholds the switch in a certain position against the operation of a motor such as an ordinary clock spring.

The automatic swltch operating device may be ndependent oi the manual operation of the switch, so that the switch can be set in any desired position, either on or oil, prior to thesetting of the automatic device, or may be operated in any way entirely independently of said device.

In the construction shown, the switch is provided with a rotating shaft, having ,the ordinary thumb piece, or handle, connected therewith; the automatic operating device motor spring, one cud of which is connected withthc sleeve, and be other with the frame, so that when said sleeve is turned with relation to the shaft. the springifis wound. The said sleeve further has a ratchet and awl connection with the shaft,

so that as t re spring runs down, the shaft will be turned with the sleeve. The sleeve is further provided with one or more reta1n- 'ing shoulders, and the frame is provided with one or more detents or pawls cooper ating with said retaining shoulders, and

arranged to be tripped by the timing mech anism.

. If it is desirable to turn on the switch automatically at a certain time, and then turn it off automatically at a later time, two pawls may be employed, the release of one pawl permitting a rotation of the shaft suflicient to change the switch from off to on, for

example, the other pawl being so situated as to catch the actuating member at the end otsuch movement. Upon tripping the other pawl, a further rotation is permitted,- sufficient'to again reverse the switch, so that by setting the device properly, lights, for e: v

ample, can be turned on at one time, and turned off later without any manipulation beyond the original setting of the switch. Assuming, for example, that it is desirable to illuminate a show window in a store, between the hours of seven and twelve in the evening after the store has been closed, the time switch can be turned to the off position, and the automatic actuating device then set, and if alarm clocks are used, the alarm of one clock can be set at seven oclock so as to release one pawl and turn the switch on, while the alarm of the other clock can be set at twelve o'clock so as to release the other paul and turn the switch off.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the switch controlling device embodying the invention, parts being broken away and shown in. section; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section with parts shown in plan; and Fig. 3 is a detail similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts in a -difl'erent position.

pr purposes of illustration, the controlling evice is shown as double acting, and under the control of ordinary alarm clocks; the automatic actuating devicehaving suliicicnt movement to change the switch from one condition to the other, and then, by the next movement, to the original condition. It is obvious that if only one clock is to be used, the movement of the automatic actuating device may be limited to such an extent as to cause the switclrmembcr to move only half the distance.

The switchn, which is herein shown as an Cit f v upportml upon a f" by which the cl ordinary bipo lar switch, is provided with the rotary shaft having the usual thumb piete or actuating device a; the switch being of that type in which a quarter turn reverses the switch, theturning movement being always in the same direction.

herein shown, the switch a is mounted on a frame I, the switch shaft (1 projecting forward through two cross-bars o and (1/ which atl'ord a bearing for the said shaft, the member a also constituting part of the support for the automatic operating member 0. The switch is provided with the usual casing a", which ha. an opening (L7 in the front, through which an indicator disk is displayed; the said indicator disk bearing alter nately the words Oil and ()n, so as to show the position of the switch. in the construetion i'1osen for illustration, the only onne tion between the switch shaft 11 and the actuating member I, is through the ratchet (1 upon the shaft (1 and the pawl pivotally eonneeteil with the actuating member. 'l'his 'connertion in no way prevents th rotation of the shalt in the proper direct on to operate the switch, but admits ol' the movement of the shaft through the actionml the actuating member (7, when the latter has been wound and set. The said a tuating me: 1/ herein shown as an ordinary clock spring (onne ted at one end to the sleeve 0"- which constitutes part ol' the actuating member 0, and at the. other end to a pin 0' connected with the trout plate 0" which constitutes one ol the bearing members tor the sleeve r. The said sleeve r is provided with an actuatinghandle shown as connected therewith by means; of a key 0''. the throw ol' the said handle 0' being limited by stops c" and c, the position of the stops being such, in the construction shown, as to admit of a movement sullirient to turn the switch substantially two quarter turns, that is, from on to -"oll" and l'rom oti". to on or vice versa.

it is obvious that any movement or movements which may be required can be provided for by so placing the stops as to properly limit the movement of the handle c".

in order to control the automatic operation of the member the said member is ler c, which is ar i provided with a. shouh ranged to be engaged by a pawl 1 which is herein shown as pivoted upon a pin 11", which projects bctwt-en the il'ttltlt members (L"':tizd

- 'lhe pawl r is provided with a. tail or iro cction which is curved as shown in t Hi round behind a clock Fig. 2, so as to extra pro ecting brat-het- I)",

epnnected with the l'rame f).

The ('lothfis shown as rovided with a socket memberj",having a ehanncif" to tit over the bracket/1", and wit it a thumb s rew oil: may be secured in po sition. By this construction the cloclt can nher r is rovided with a motor i l l t f" supported on a bracket be readily slipped off for Winding and setting. The position of the projection e is such that when the pawl e is in ei'igagement with the shoulder at, as shown in Fig. the said projection will be in the/path ol movement of the alarm winding handle/' the rotation oi which when the alarm spring begins to run down, will cause it to act upon the projection 6 so as to trip the pawl e.

In Fig. the switchis shown as turned otl'. while the actuating member c is wound ready to operate, the pawl beingin engagement with the shoulder c.

The clock shown at the Mt hand side is in dicated as having the alarm set for seven oclock, at which time oi course the winding handle f will begin to rotate, owing to the running down of the alarm spring when re leased. This movement ol the handlef will trip the pawl r', as shown in Fig. 2' thus permitting the member (1 to rotate through the action oi its spring 11, carrying with it, through the pawl c" and ratchet. (1 the shaft (1, of the switch. The movement thus provided l'or is limited by a stop, so that the shaft (1 will be carri d only far enough to turn the switch on. in cases where only a single operation is required, the limiting stop may be made permanent, it being obvious that the switch may automatically be turned iron: on to oil. or l'rom o to 01],35 may be desired by simply setting the switch in the desired position. wilh the usual actuator it. either bel'ore or alter winding the motor spring 1/, but prior to the automatic operation thcreol'.

in the construction shown, however, the limiting stop is indicated as a detent or pawl c'", corresponding to the pawl c. and having a projection arranged to be engaged by the alarm winding handle f ol' another clock While the pawl c might cooperate with the shoulder a, l have indicated the member c as provided with a supplemental shoulder c, this constructitmbeing more convenient on account of the.position ol the second pawl e'. After the member c has moved far enough to turn the switch on, as iridicated in Fig. 3, the shoulder c brings up against the pawl c and the switch remains on until the said pawl is tripped by the other clock. This renders it' practicable to set the switch in advance, so that it can be automatically turned on at one time and oil' at. alater time, without l'urt her attention on the part of the user.

While the construction chosen to illustrate the invention, which is shown in the drawings and specifically hereinbel'ore described, is simple and practicable, it is obvious that modificationsintheconstructionandarrangementof the switch, the nature of the timing element, etc., may be made without departing from tlic'iuventioii.

. "when The spring for the alarm mechanism of the clock may be regarded as a motor adapted to operate at any predetermined time, for which any equivalent may be substituted; and the actuating member a and its spring constitute amotor for directly operating the switch, the latter motor being under the con trol of the former.

What I claim is:

1. A switch controlling device, comprising a support, a rotary electric switch having an operating shaft mounted on said support, a motor and a stop therefor loosely mounted with relation to the switch opera-tlng shaft, a pawl and ratchet connection between said switch shaft and the motor and its stop, a clock mechanism, and a retaining pawl cooperating with the motor stoand adapted to be released by the 0100 mechanism, whereby the switch may be automatically operated at a predetermined time or manually operated independently of the motor and its stop.

2. A switch controlling device, comprising a support, a rotary switch having an operating shaft mounted on said support, a bracket connected with said support, a clock mechanism arranged upon said bracket, a sleeve loosely mounted on the switch shaft and having a ratchet and pawl connection therewith, an actuating handle for the switch shaft independentof. said sleeve, a motor connected with said sleeve and adapted to rotate said switch shaft through the ratchet and pawl connection, and a retaining device for said sleeve and its attached motor adapted to be tripped by the action of the clock mechanism whereby the switch may be automatically operated at a predetermined time ormanually operated independently of the motor and its tripping mechanism.

3. The combination with a support, of a rotary electric switch mounted thereon, an alarm clock also mounted thereon, an actuating member loosely mounted on the rotary part of said switch and having a ratchet and pawl connection therewith, a spring. connected at one endwith said actuating member and at the other end with said support, a handle for turning said actuating member with relation to said rotary portion, a stop on said loosely mounted actuating member, a pawl cooperating with said stop and having a part projecting towards and into the path of Y the alarm winding handle of the clock, and a handle for turning the rotary portion of the switch independently of said actuating member and its stop mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I ,name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. CAMPBELL.

/Vitnesses.

MARGARET E. CovENEY, HENRY J. LIVERMOR-E.

have signed my V 

